Aanii, My name is Kadence and I am from Ontario, Canada. I would like to share my experience with Indigenous land-based cultural healing camps and how life-changing it was for me. These cultural practices are especially needed in smaller remote communities; because they are so isolated from the rest of society, they lack the privilege of good education, social opportunities, and new experiences. This can have a negative effect on the mental and physical health of people who live in these communities. 

For starters, land-based activities can be considered an education, because naturally not many people grow up with the privilege of knowing certain practices or experiencing them. Fishing, for example, is a whole skill in itself. You learn how to cast your bait, how to snag your bait, and most importantly, you learn how to properly filet a fish and cook it after.

Another great land-based activity is canoeing. It involves a lot of upper body strength. You may have to paddle against some really strong winds, and if you're not paddling even enough, you can get pulled back or even away from the trail you're trekking. When canoeing, you have to portage your items and canoes across a path to another body of water, that’s where you're more than likely to break a good sweat.

Hunting is also considered a land-based activity. It requires a lot of patience and silence, and there are many different techniques to hunting that you learn. 

Survival and first aid training are essential to know. Being in the deep bush, you are more at risk of running into wildlife—and are exposed to potential injuries. NEVER go in the bush alone; make arrangements to have skilled and experienced survivalists to tag along.

When I was younger, I was living in a small remote community. It wasn’t a fly-in or boat-in reserve, it was isolated from other cities and towns, so you have to drive into it off Highway 11/17 between Matheson and Kirkland Lake. But like other Northern Remote Communities, we had issues with jobs and food security, and there were social issues. Being in a small and unhealthy community, there were a lot of negative experiences, until a woman who worked as a program officer partnered with Nishnawbe Aski Nation to bring a fully funded service to our community: Choose Life program. 

The launch of this program gave me the opportunity to experience my first Land-based Healing Camp somewhere in Quebec, Canada. It was called Kookum Camp. We stayed for a week straight alongside the shoreline of a beautiful beach. There must have been 10 other communities who came and participated. 

I remember seeing so many indigenous youth, canvas tents, and regular camping tents. We learned about the 7 grandfather teachers. We also took part in a water ceremony, where we sang and prayed for the water. Another experience I had there was when the hunters we had on-site at the camp caught a cougar that was lurking in the sleeping areas. We were able to watch how they harvested the meat, hide, and fur from the animal. Overall it was a really fun experience. I made some great  connections with other youth in different communities that I still often speak to here and there.

I would like to talk more about my recent experiences being out on the land. I had the opportunity to work as a youth leader in the last two years for a group called Roots & Wings in Temagami, Ontario. It’s based off a boat-in reserve called Bear Island. 

Before this time, I hadn’t taken part in anything land-based since my time in Wahgoshig First Nation. My first summer in Bear Island was healing. We canoed to Devil’s Mountain in one day or somewhere close enough, but with that first hike and canoe paddle, I felt so refreshed and grounded. It was like all my worries and stresses went away, I felt motivated. I felt empowered.

In that same summer, we planned a week-long camping/canoe trip out to Obabika Lake, connected to Temagami, in that same area. The first night we spent on a huge rock. It poured rain our first day and it was super windy. We all were soaked and cold; we struggled starting a good fire and staying warm. Our second day, we caught a break and it was a hot sunny day, where we arrived at a beach, ate some great food and relaxed by a fire. The third night I remember I had to sleep on rough roots on the ground because my tent mate and I were last to choose good grounding. The best part was that it was deeper in the bush, it was so beautiful and it smelt so purifying. Our last night was spent at Rangers Point. There was a fresh spring water creek 10 minutes from our camping location. We met an elderly man who was the steward of the land. He brought us over to where he kept his lodge, and we learned some history of the lake. It was a challenging but grounding experience. I saw some of the most beautiful sights of nature, and made some good memories with some great people.

Last but not least, I would like to share Big Medicine Studio, located on Nipissing First Nation, Ontario. I've had the privilege to visit this location more than once in the last three years. It is owned by a lovely couple, Penny and Sidd; they always create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone, including their humble chefs. My most recent experience with them was through the college program I partake in: Indigenous wellness and addictions prevention.

Most of my Canadore College classmates got to experience their first sweat lodge; a handful of us got to make our first traditional drum and learn about the different plants and their benefits and uses. We also spent a majority of our time learning and talking in the tipi. Overall this experience in itself was cultural and land-based. I really recommend for you to look up land-based outings and healing camps, to get out there. It’s a humbling, life-changing experience. 

Miigwetch (thank you) for reading!!!

Kadie Bouchard is a 21 year old college student from Thunder Bay, Ontario.

She is currently enrolled in Indigenous wellness and addictions at Canadore College, with the means to become a traveling land-based program worker, and is considering becoming a part-time author.